Brain injuries are more common than you may think — affecting as many as 1.7 million people and claiming 52,000 lives annually. Possible catastrophes like automobile accidents, slip-and-falls, violence, and explosions are all common causes of brain injuries.
4 Different Types of Brain Injuries
Concussions
- Concussions, otherwise known as mild traumatic brain injuries, are the most common and least serious type of brain injury.
- Most who suffer from concussions fully recover with the right treatment.
- Concussions can be tricky to diagnose because you can’t actually see them.
- Signs may not appear for days or even weeks after the injury.
Brain Contusions
- Contusions can be minor injuries with few symptoms, or they can severely impair.
- Brain contusions are often caused by an impact to the head, including head trauma sustained in car accidents, falls, and sports-related accidents.
- Mild contusions may disappear in time. People with moderate to severe contusions may have to undergo surgery or may be prescribed medication.
Penetrating Brain Injuries
- Penetrating brain injuries occur when an object enters the skull, causing a serious threat to life.
- Those who suffer from penetrating brain injuries must seek emergency medical treatment. Most need surgery after an injury of this caliber.
- A neurosurgeon may need to remove fractured pieces of the skull or remove part of the skull due to the brain swelling.
Anoxic Brain Injuries
- Unlike the brain injuries listed above, anoxic brain injuries aren’t typically caused by a blow to the head.
- Anoxic brain injuries occur when the brain is deprived of oxygen.
- Some brain cells start dying less than 5 minutes after their oxygen supply disappears.
Concussion or Contusion?
The Difference
- A contusion occurs when a brain bruises, causing bleeding in the brain due to localized trauma. A concussion happens when a person suffers from a blow to the head or is shaken.
The Symptoms
- Symptoms of concussions include vomiting, nausea, changes in behavior, intense migraines, ringing in the ears, headaches, confusion, and amnesia.
- Symptoms of contusions can include speaking difficulties, problems with attention, and memory issues.
Know Your Resources
Getting the Help You Need After a Brain Injury
- Regardless of the type or caliber of brain injury you endure, it is vital to seek medical attention as soon as possible in order to stop the rapid progression of brain injuries.
- If you or a loved one suffer a blow to the head, seek prompt medical assistance. Doing so could save a life.
Wyatt Law Firm: The Brain Injury Attorneys You Deserve
The life-changing effects brain injuries have on people can be difficult to manage alone. Therefore, when you or a loved one has suffered from a brain injury, you need an attorney with experience that will fight for the justice you deserve. Our relentless team of proven attorneys at Wyatt Law Firm has been pursuing maximum financial recovery for our clients since 1990.
- We seek justice for people throughout Texas and the US — including the cities of San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Laredo, and Corpus Christi.
- Call us at 210-340-5550 to learn about how you can get the results you deserve today.
- If you would like us to contact you, fill out a confidential form and we’ll get right back to you.
- Get a fighter on your side today.